The Fergana Valley, once deemed a potential geopolitical flashpoint, is now a thriving hub of peace and opportunity, according to Sherzod Asadov, Press Secretary to the President of Uzbekistan.
In a recent statement, Asadov reflected on past warnings issued by renowned geostrategist Zbigniew Brzezinski, who in his 1997 book The Grand Chessboard described the valley as a "powder keg" that could erupt due to its complex ethnic and geopolitical dynamics. The region is shared by Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
“Indeed, there was a time when this ancient region gave many reasons to believe that such ominous predictions could come true,” Asadov acknowledged. “But today, we live in a completely different reality.”
He credited this transformation to the “far-sighted leadership” of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, under whom a wave of systematic reforms and regional cooperation has taken root. Asadov emphasized that the three regions of the valley — Andijan, Fergana, and Namangan — have seen dramatic positive change.
Highlighting Andijan as the heart of the valley, Asadov described it as a "powerful center of economic growth, entrepreneurial initiative, innovation, intellectual development, and cultural revival." He noted that each new project in the region reinforces the foundation for future progress.
“A new city — Babur — is being built. The people here dream, study, research, and create opportunities not just for themselves, but for others,” he said.
Asadov emphasized that Andijan serves as a prime example of how knowledge, hard work, and effective government policy can reshape an entire region. He recalled that not long ago, the Asaka automobile plant was the valley’s only major industrial site. Today, the region’s densely populated communities are maximizing the benefits of reforms and achieving tangible results across multiple sectors.
The statement also highlighted a historic meeting earlier this year, when the prime ministers of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan convened at the tri-border area. According to the Uzbek government, the meeting demonstrated the strong political will of the three nations’ leaders to foster friendship and elevate regional cooperation to new levels.
“The Fergana Valley has become not a ‘powder keg’, but a place of opportunities, prosperity, peace, good neighborliness, and creativity,” Asadov said, reiterating that outdated prophecies no longer define the region’s future.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev recently visited the Andijan region, participating in a public celebration at the “New Uzbekistan” park and meeting with representatives of the diverse ethnic groups living there. The president reaffirmed that peace, interethnic harmony, and unity remain among the most valuable achievements of the nation.
Asadov concluded that the example set by Andijan, Fergana, and Namangan demonstrates the immense potential of the people when backed by visionary leadership and mutual cooperation.
“It’s time to forget the old prophecies,” he said. “Today’s Fergana Valley is a testament to what is possible when nations work together in the spirit of peace and progress.”
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